Door-fastener.



B. A. KUTZ.

DOOR FASTBNER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1911.

Patented June 18, 1912.

EWA.W,

I nrr FTE DOOR-FASTENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Emma A. KUTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements 1n door fasteners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of door fasteners, and to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive door fastener, designed for use in screen doors, cupboard doors, and similar closures, and adapted to keep sucha door tightly closed, and capable of exert-111g sufficient pressure on the same to prevent sagging of the door.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a door fastener of this character, adapted to permit a relatively light or weak spring to be employed for closing the door, and equipped with means for adjusting its spring tension to the condition of the door.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,-proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door fastener, constructed in accordance with this invent-i011, and'shown applied to a portion of a screen door and its frame or casing. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, the door being closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view, illustrating the arrangement of the parts when the door is slightly open. Fig. 4: is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the door fastener. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the spring actuated bolt.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the door fastener comprises in its construction a spring actuated bolt 1, extending through a horizontal opening 2 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1911.

Patented June 18, 1912. Serial No. 643,164.

of a casing or housing 3- and actuated in its outward movement by a coiled spring 1, located within the opening 2 and disposed on the bolt 1 and interposed between an arm 5 of the same and an adjusting screw 6. The casing or housing may be constructed of any suitable material, and the opening 2 at the front end of the said casing or housing is'reduced at 7 to fit the spring actuated bolt, and the rear portion of the opening 2 is interiorly threaded at 8 to engage the threads of the screw 6, which is hollow to receive and guide the inner or rear portion of the spring actuated bolt. The longitu dinal bore or opening 9 of the screw is alined with the reduced front portion 7 of the opening 2, and the bolt slides freely through the front of the casing or houslng and the hollow screw in its inward and outward movements. The casing 3 is provided in its top portion above the opening 2 with a slot 10 in which the arm 5 operates and through which the said arm projects. The screw 6, which is provided at its outer end with a milled head, is adjustable inwardly and outwardly to adjust the tension of the spring to adapt the fastener to the condition of a screen door 11, or other closure, and the said fastener is adapted to exert the desired pressure on the door 11 to maintain the same tightly in its closed position and also to prevent sagging. As the pressure produced by the spring tends to prevent sagging, such spring pressure may also be employed for returning a sagging door to its proper shape or condition.

The front engaging end 12 of the spring actuated bolt 1 is curved laterally to present an inner rounded or bevel face to a curved strike or plate 18 of the door. The plate or strike 13, which is secured in a horizontal position to the free edge of the door 11, presents a rounded or bevel face to the rounded face of the engaging end 12 of the spring actuated bolt, and when \the door is pulled outward to open it, the spring actuated bolt is moved inward and is automatically held in its retracted"position by means of a catch 1d. The catch lt consists of an approximately horizontal lever, extending longitudinally of the fastener and arranged upon the top of the casing or housing 3 and pivoted at its rear end to the same by a screw 15, or other suitable fastening device, which pierces the rear end of the catch lever 14 and engages a threaded perforation or socket of the casing or housing 3. The catch lever 1 1- is provided at a point intermediate of its ends with an engaging por tion 16, beveled at the front and provided at the back with a shoulder to engage the arm 5. The catch lever is urged in the direction of the arm 5 by means of a spring 17, secured to the door frame or casing above the housing or casing for the bolt by means of a screw 18, or other suitable fastening device. The screw 18 pierces an enlarged upper end 19 of the spring and is embedded in the door frame or casing. The lower end of the spring 17 bears against the inner side edge of the lever 14, which is provided at its front end with an enlargement or head 20, arranged in the path of a tripping arm 21 of a plate 22. The plate 22 is secured by screws, or other suitable fastening devices to the free edge of the door, and the arm extends outwardly from the plate at right angles thereto, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, and is arranged to contact with the head of the catch lever after the strike or plate 13 has passed the front engaging end of the spring actuated bolt. The closing of the door carries the tripping arm or member 21 into engagement with the catch lever and swings the same away from the arm 5 and releases the latter and permits the coiled spring 8 to move the bolt 1 outwardly into engagement with the strike or plate 13.

By this construction, a relatively light-or weak spring may be employed for closing the door 11, as only sufficient force is required to close the door and trip the catch lever 14. In practice the parts are designed to be painted or otherwise coated to render them rust-proof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A. door fastener of the class described comprising a casing provided with a slot, a spring actuated bolt mounted within the casing and having an arm projecting through the slot to a point exteriorly of the casing, a spring actuated catch pivoted to the exterior of the casing and arranged to swing into and out of engagement with the projecting arm of the bolt and engaging the said arm to retain the latter in the bolt retracted position, and a tripping device arranged to engage with the catch lever for moving the same out of engagement with the projecting arm of the bolt to release the latter.

2. A door fastener of the class described including a casing having an opening and provided with a slot, a spring actuated bolt mounted in the casing and having an arm extending through the slot, a catch lever pivotally mounted on the casing and provided with an engaging portion located adjacent to the slot and arranged in the path of the arm and engaging the same to hold the bolt in a retracted position, a spring for urging the catch lever toward the arm of the bolt, a strike designed to be mounted on a door to engage with the bolt, and a tripping member also carried by the door and having a projecting arm arranged to engage the catch lever to release the same after the strike has passed the bolt.

3. A door fastener of the class described including a casing provided in its top with a slot, a spring actuated bolt mounted within the casing and having a vertically disposed arm projecting through the slot of the casing, said bolt being provided at its front end with a beveled face, a spring actuated catch arranged upon the top of the casing and extending longitudinally of the same and pivoted at its rear end to the easing and engaging the arm of the bolt to hold the same retracted, a strike designed to be mounted on a door and presenting a beveled face to the bolt, and a tripping plate also carried by the door and arranged above the strike to engage the catch to release the bolt after the strike has passed the latter.

4. A door fastener of the class described including a casing designed to be mounted on a door frame and provided with a slot, a bolt guided in the casing and having an arm extending through the slot to the exterior of the casing, a spring arranged within the casing and engaging the arm for urging the bolt outwardly, a catch pivoted to the exterior of the casing and engaging the said arm to hold the same in a retracted position, a strike designed to be mounted on a door, and a tripping device also carried by the door and located above the strike and arranged to engage the catch to release the bolt after the strike has passed the latter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER A. KUTZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. SOHLEGEL, EDWARD HART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

